One Dance for Case (Possessed 2)

alled, he led them up the stairs to her. As for what’s wrong with her, I’ll get the doctor in here to explain.”

She left like she hadn’t just imploded Ev’s world. Explaining that a two-year-old boy had to witness such devastating destruction to his mother.

“Oh, Lace.” She didn’t know where she could touch her. “What happened to you?” She sat in the chair Case had pulled up for her, watching her heart rate on the monitor, listening to the persistent beeping of the machines.

A soft knock was heard just before the doctor entered. “Hi, I’m Doctor Simons. I’ve been taking care of Ms. Moore since her arrival earlier this morning. I understand you’re her sister?”

“I am,” she whispered, looking back to her broken sibling.

“She’s sleeping off the effects of the anesthesia right now. We had to do surgery on her leg and reinflate her right lung. She is lucky that’s the worst of it. Her nose is broken, which is why there’s so much swelling around her eyes. Jaw has also been dislocated. Other than that, she’s in good shape.”

“Good shape?” What she was looking at didn’t look like good shape; it looked painful.

“Relatively speaking. What I mean is the lung could have collapsed completely, and that would have been a whole slew of other problems.” He explained gently.

“Where’s my nephew?”

“In the nurse’s lounge with a few off-duty nurses. He’s safe.”

“I want to see him,” she demanded.

“Of course. Come with me.”

Kissing Lacey’s forehead, she followed along with Casey, his hand at her back in support. Fighting off tears, she knew she had to be strong when she saw Andy. He was so sensitive when it came to her and his mom.

When the doctor opened the lounge room door, she broke. Tears streamed down her face. Her knees buckled, and she hit the floor. Andy was curled up in a ball on the couch, tear marks on his dirty face. Blood coated his shoes on the floor.

“Aunty Evie,” he cried, jumping up and racing towards her. He threw his body into hers so hard that if Casey hadn’t caught them, she would have fallen over backwards. Andy had been stripped down to his underwear, presumably because he had blood on his clothes.

“Oh, baby.” She kissed every part of his face that she could. “Are you hurt?” He wouldn’t let go of the death grip he had around her neck. “Tell me, Andy,” she pleaded. He finally shook his head no.

“We’ll give you a minute,” one of the nurses told her quietly as Case helped her get to her feet with the precious bundle in her arms.

While she walked to the couch Andy had just vacated, Case followed the nurses out to speak to them. “Talk to me, baby.” She tried to get him to open up to her, but he just cried and shook in her arms. Her heart was breaking for the pain he must be feeling.

“Is Mommy, okay?’ he finally whispered in her ear.

“Oh, baby,” she crooned again. “She will be. We’ll help her,” she promised, hoping she’d be able to keep it.

The soft click of the door opening made her look up to see Casey coming back in. “One of them is going to get him some clothes and shoes,” he explained.

“Thank you.,” Rubbing circles on Andy’s back, it wasn’t long before he fell asleep.

“I also called a friend in the Metro PD in Baltimore to see if he can find out about her assault. Determine whether they have any ideas about who did it.” She was relieved to have him with her because she hadn’t even thought to ask about the person responsible for the assault.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She cried softly on Andy’s shoulder.

Pulling him from her arms, Case lay the sleeping child down and covered him back up with the blanket beside her. “We’ll get this figured out, Ev.” Now he was making the promises.

“I just wish she hadn’t left.” Guilt was beginning to compound in her chest, and her nausea was back. “I feel so sick about it all.”

“You were feeling sick before this. Maybe we should have you checked out while we’re here.”

Dismissing his concern, she said, “I’m fine. It’s just all this stress.”

As fate would have it, the doctor walked back in. “Miss Moore, I wanted to let you know that the Department of Child and Family Services is on their way.” He must have seen the stark terror in her eyes. “No, no, don’t you worry. I’ve explained that you are Lacey’s sister and have assumed you’d be taking possession of the boy?”

“Yes, of course,” she told him without thought to how Casey would feel.